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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Algorithm Development For On-Line Control Of The Airborne Laser, Michael W. Oppenheimer Sep 2000

Algorithm Development For On-Line Control Of The Airborne Laser, Michael W. Oppenheimer

Theses and Dissertations

The use of adaptive optics entails the design of a controller. This requires the development of a model of the plant to be controlled, which, in this case, Consists of the atmosphere through which light is traveling. In optics, Zemike polynornials are used as a basis set for the expansion of wavefront phase distortions. Due to the turbulence induced stochastic nature of the underlying process involved, the spatial-temporal correlation functions of the Zemike polynomial phase expansion coefficients must be evaluated if a proper stochastic model of the plant is to be developed and adaptive optics is to be employed. In …


Validation Of The Ionospheric Forecast Model (Ifm) Version 3, Michael D. Scott Mar 2000

Validation Of The Ionospheric Forecast Model (Ifm) Version 3, Michael D. Scott

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to validate the Ionospheric Forecast Model (IFM) Version 3 to assess its suitability and usefulness as an operational tool. The Ionospheric forecast model is a first principles computer model designed to forecast the state of the global ionosphere to 24 hours. The scope was limited to a comparison of the F2 layer critical frequency (foF2) and peak electron density (hmF2) against observed ionosonde data. The model was run with global solar and geomagnetic indices and Information from Digitial Ionospheric Sounding System (DISS) observations as inputs. The DISS observations were input through the Parameterized Real-Time …


Investigation Of Laser Beam Combining And Cleanup Via Seeded Stimulated Brillouin Scattering In Multimode Optical Fibers, Bryan J. Choi Mar 2000

Investigation Of Laser Beam Combining And Cleanup Via Seeded Stimulated Brillouin Scattering In Multimode Optical Fibers, Bryan J. Choi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis research was to determine if stimulated Brillouin scattering amplification in multimode optical fibers would exhibit the same laser beam combining and clean-up properties exhibited by SBS oscillation, and to characterize the Brillouin amplification process in a multimode optical fiber. Beam combining in multimode fibers via SBS is being considered as a method of combining low power laser beams into a single beam having higher power and superior spatial coherence for applications such as electro-optic countermeasures. Experimental results demonstrate seeding a 9.5 mm fiber significantly reduced the pump power required to initiate SBS. An amplified Stokes …


Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics For The Compensation Of Amplitude And Phase Distortions, Peter N. Crabtree Mar 2000

Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics For The Compensation Of Amplitude And Phase Distortions, Peter N. Crabtree

Theses and Dissertations

Two deformable mirrors (DMs) with finite conjugate ranges are investigated for compensating amplitude and phase distortions due to laser propagation through turbulent atmospheres. Simulations are performed based on Adaptive Optics (AO) for an Airborne Laser-type scenario. The Strehl ratio, the number of branch points in DM controls, and the number of iterations to convergence are used as figures of merit to evaluate performance of the Sequential Generalized Projection Algorithm that generates mirror commands. The results are ensemble averages over 32 realizations of the scintillated test fields for each value of the Rytov parameter within the test scenario. The Gaussian beam …


Temperature Determination In An I2 Gas Using Dopper-Limited Saturation Spectroscopy, James W. Myers Jr. Mar 2000

Temperature Determination In An I2 Gas Using Dopper-Limited Saturation Spectroscopy, James W. Myers Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Saturation spectroscopy techniques were used to demonstrate the ability to make spatially resolved temperature measurements by exploiting the B3 ∏(O+u) - X1 Σ ;(O+g) electronic transition in molecular iodine (I2). Doppler-free saturation spectroscopy measurements resulted in hyperfine spectral profiles for the P(7O) 17-1 and P(53) 19-2 ro-vibrational transitions between the electronic levels. Doppler-limited saturation spectroscopy, an adaptation of the Doppler-free technique in which beams propagate in the same direction and cross within the gas sample, allowed for the measurement of spatially resolved Doppler profiles for the same transitions. The profiles were measured …


Optical Metrology Of Adaptive Membrane Mirrors, John W. Wagner Mar 2000

Optical Metrology Of Adaptive Membrane Mirrors, John W. Wagner

Theses and Dissertations

Current space-based imaging platforms are significantly constrained in both size and weight by the launch vehicle. Increased payload size and weight results in increased cost and a decrease in launch responsiveness. The USAF Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) identified "Large lightweight structures for optics and antennas" as a revolutionary primary technology to be developed for the Air Force of the 21st Century. A membrane primary mirror in a space-based imaging system has the ability to overcome current payload constraints and meet evolutionary needs of the future. The challenge of membrane optics in space is the process of implementing adaptive optics technology …


Collection Of Detonation Signatures And Characterization Of Spectral Features, Jay A. Orson Mar 2000

Collection Of Detonation Signatures And Characterization Of Spectral Features, Jay A. Orson

Theses and Dissertations

The remote observations of the temporal and spectral characteristics of the infrared (IR) emissions from exploding ordnance have been correlated with explosion conditions. A Bomem MR-154 Fourier Transform Interferometer with two detectors, InSb and HgCdTe, and a 75 mrad telescope was used to record spectra in the 1.3 - 20 µm range. Data was collected at spectral resolutions of 16 cm-1 and 4 cm-1 and temporal resolutions of 0.045 s and 0.123 s respectively. Two field tests were conducted: (1) a set of dynamic drop explosions and (2) a series of static detonations. In most events, the temporal …


Active Multispectral Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function Measurement System, Mark J. Proctor Mar 2000

Active Multispectral Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function Measurement System, Mark J. Proctor

Theses and Dissertations

Today's highly technical battlefield environment dictates the need for a method of standoff target identification, which reduces risk to personnel and equipment. It is widely known that a given material will react differently to incident radiation than a dissimilar material. Certain materials may respond specularly while others tend to be diffuse. By measuring these responses, materials can be identified by comparison with a known database. One method of building such a database for target recognition is by employing an active multi spectral bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) measurement system. In the following text, such a system is developed and tested …


Testing Of The New Usgs K Index Algorithm At Bear Lake Observatory, Ariel O. Acebal Mar 2000

Testing Of The New Usgs K Index Algorithm At Bear Lake Observatory, Ariel O. Acebal

Theses and Dissertations

The K index was developed by Bartels in 1939 as an estimate of the level of geomagnetic activity caused by the Sun. This index was computed manually every three hours at geomagnetic observatories using the magnetic traces of the surface planetary magnetic field. In 1991, the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy approved four additional methods to compute the K index; all of them were computer algorithms. One of the approved methods, the Wilson code, recently underwent some modifications. The new algorithm is now part of a Windows-based computer program being developed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). After …


Tunable Mid-Ir Optical Parametric Oscillator Using Periodically Poled Rubidum Titanyl Arsenate, Frank J. Glavic Mar 2000

Tunable Mid-Ir Optical Parametric Oscillator Using Periodically Poled Rubidum Titanyl Arsenate, Frank J. Glavic

Theses and Dissertations

Tunable sources of coherent radiation are needed for a variety of military and commercial applications, including infrared countermeasures and atmospheric remote sensing. This research investigates a tunable mid-infrared coherent source using periodically-poled rubidium titanyl arsenate (PPRTA) as a quasi-phase matched (QPM) optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The advantages of PPRTA over periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) are presented. Quasi-phase matching and periodic poling theory are discussed, along with some important historical results and current developments. Experimental setups for determining threshold, conversion efficiency, pump depletion, and beam quality are presented along with experimental results. The research effort is focused on characterizing PPRTA …


Atmospheric Temperature Profiles By Ground-Based Infrared Spectrometer Measurements, Jon M. Saul Mar 2000

Atmospheric Temperature Profiles By Ground-Based Infrared Spectrometer Measurements, Jon M. Saul

Theses and Dissertations

A method to recover atmospheric temperature profiles using a ground-based Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer was investigated. The method used a difference form of the radiative transfer equation, a Bomem MR series Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer to collect atmospheric radiance values, and the Phillips Laboratory Expert- assisted User Software (PLEXUS) atmospheric radiance model, to recover an atmospheric temperature profile. The method researched uses radiance values from both the spectrometer measurements and the atmospheric model, along with kernel functions calculated by the atmospheric model as input to a difference form of the radiation transfer equation. From this the change in brightness temperatures …


Optical Investigation Of Molecular Beam Epitaxy AlXGa1-XN To Determine Material Quality, Judith L. Mcfall Mar 2000

Optical Investigation Of Molecular Beam Epitaxy AlXGa1-XN To Determine Material Quality, Judith L. Mcfall

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine the quality of AIGaN samples with various mole fractions of aluminum doped with silicon. The samples utilized for this study were composed of an AIN buffer layer sandwiched between the sapphire substrate and AIGaN epilayer grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Cathodoluminescence (CL) and photoluminescence (PL) were employed to determine the mole fraction of aluminum in each sample. These techniques also gave insight into the material's nonuniformity, defects, and impurities. CL was run at 4 different beam energies (2,5,10, & 15 keV) with four different currents (1,10,50, & 90 µA) for the …